BAR manager Pamela Jones kept up a string of lies for two weeks before finally admitting to her bosses that she had stolen nearly £2,000 from them.

Jones, 41, was bar manager at Chippenham's Borough Arms, when she stole the money from landlord and licensee Wayne Bentley.

Jones told Mr Bentley's partner Neisha Williams, that she had put the cash into her own private bank account because she had seen someone acting suspiciously near the back door of the pub, and wanted to keep it safe.

Rhys Davies, prosecuting, said the theft first came to light when Ms Williams noticed a shortfall in the takings and questioned Jones on July 16.

"She agreed to withdraw the cash and put it into the pub's account.

"On July 18 Mrs Jones said she had been to the bank but they had refused to give her the money without 48 hours notice because of the amount involved."

Nearly a week later, on July 24, Ms Williams questioned Jones again, and she told her she had withdrawn the money, but had left the paying book at home so could not show her any evidence. Several other excuses followed.

Mr Davies said by this stage Ms Williams suspected something was definitely wrong and told Jones to give her the books the following day or her job would be on the line.

"On July 30 Jones turned up with the paying in books, which showed no payments had been made by her.

"She said she had taken the money to pay her rent arrears to Westlea Housing Association," said Mr Davies.

Jones was reported to the police. She initially claimed she had banked the money, but retracted this when told her bank records would be checked.

Jones, who has no previous convictions, said she knew what she had done was theft and pleaded guilty to stealing £1,960 when she appeared at North West Wiltshire Magistrates' Court in Chippenham.

Her solicitor Stephen Clifford, said she had experienced a catalogue of personal and financial problems over the last year.

The case was adjourned to December 3 for the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report. Jones was released on unconditional bail.